Word
glut
US/ˈɡɫət/
UK/ɡlˈʌt/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a situation where there is too much of something, like a product or a resource, so the price drops. It often happens when a market has more supply than people want to buy.
n. an excess of a particular commodity or resource, leading to a significant drop in market value. Often used in economic or geological contexts to describe oversupply or overabundance.
Examples
“A sudden glut of apples caused the price at the market to fall.”
“The discovery of several new oil fields led to a glut in the global market, forcing producers to lower their prices.”
“Economists warned that the rapid expansion of the semiconductor industry would eventually lead to a glut, as the rate of production outpaced the growth of consumer demand.”
Examples
simple
“A sudden glut of apples caused the price at the market to fall.”
contextual
“The discovery of several new oil fields led to a glut in the global market, forcing producers to lower their prices.”
complex
“Economists warned that the rapid expansion of the semiconductor industry would eventually lead to a glut, as the rate of production outpaced the growth of consumer demand.”
Real-World Examples
“Reports of milk going to waste are not uncommon during periods of a dairy glut.” “For the new series, a glut of huge names and personalities from across the worlds of film, TV, music, modelling and broadcasting have also been selected.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English glotien /glotten, probably derived from Old French gloter /glotir /glotoiier (“to eat greedily”) [compare French engloutir (“to devour”), French glouton (“glutton”)], derived from Latin gluttiō, gluttīre (“to swallow”). Compare Russian глота́ть (glotátʹ, “to swallow”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/glut